Which term refers to a surgical procedure that removes or destroys brain tissue in an effort to change behavior?

• A. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
• B. Psychosurgery
• C. Psychoanalysis
• D. Counseling psychology

Answer: (B)

Psychosurgery is the term for a surgical procedure that removes or destroys brain tissue to alter behavior. It has been used historically for severe, treatment-resistant conditions to change neural circuits and reduce problematic symptoms. While modern psychiatry uses it rarely and with stringent safeguards, the defining idea is the direct alteration of brain tissue through surgery.

In contrast, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is noninvasive and modulates brain activity with magnetic fields rather than removing tissue. Psychoanalysis is a psychotherapeutic approach focused on unconscious processes, not surgical intervention. Counseling psychology refers to a practice area focused on assessment and therapy, not brain surgery.